A thrilling Coast Guard rescue was captured on film yesterday, as the agency responded to the dangerous conditions caused by Hurricane Helene.
A man and his dog were rescued Thursday after their sailboat became disabled off the coast of Sanibel Island, Florida, according to social media posts from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Southeastern Division. The pair were sailing about 25 miles from the island when their 36-foot vessel began taking on water.
The video footage below shows a member from Air Station Clearwater descending from a helicopter into the choppy ocean to reach the stranded pair. Once the rescuer reached the boat, both the man and his dog entered the water and were hoisted to safety in a rescue basket. Once safely inside the helicopter, the man exchanged high-fives with the crew.
The man and his dog were transported to Southwest Florida International Airport, where they were met by emergency services. According to the Coast Guard, both were in good medical condition. The sailboat remains disabled and adrift.
The rescue occurred hours before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. It brought dangerous storm surges, heavy rain, and high winds before being downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland. At least two dozen people are dead after the storm ripped through the southeastern U.S. this week, ABC News reported.
While the worst of the storm has passed, mariners could still experience its lingering effects and should exercise caution, the Coast Guard said in a Facebook post.
